League game 11/7/08 -  First off, a little vent.  I hate playing 11 handed but will battle through it, 12 handed is just obsurd, and poker should never be played 13 handed.  NEVER!  Sure enough, our league organizer decided to play 13 handed this week.  With only 22 league members total, we should never have to sit more than 11 per table.  Its just STUPID to do so.  What makes it worse is we have a 3rd table not in use while we sit 13 people at 2 tables!  WTF!?  I voice my opinion everytime and its never heard.  13 handed table, 20 min rounds, = about 6 hands every level, sometimes less because they're all on TV.  So...before we even play a single hand, I'm already on TILT.  Then not more than 4 hands in, I pick up QQ UTG, raise to 250, MP RR to 600, LP RR to 1200.  I call (just PRAYING to see a flop since we're so deep) but not so lucky as MP RR again to 3600!  LP mucks, I muck tabling QQ, LP shows KK, and MP shows AA.  (LP in this case happens to be Wil by the way).  Table is stunned to how we can lay down KK and QQ in that spot as if it wasn't blatantly OBVIOUS that MP had AA.  Just shows the skill level of my opponents in the league.  All I'm thinking is GREAT, going to be one of those nights.  So for the next hour, I see no playable hands (which is only 15 hands anyway).  Come back from break, get involved in another situation where I have JJ vs QQ vs KK, and now we're semi short.  Not too much longer, decide to open on the button with 22, BB RR but I know he knows my range is wide and I know his range is wide also.  I HATE just calling here and I HATE folding.  Decide I have enough behind if he doesn't have anything, he might fold and I'll take a shot at racing if he has 2 overs.  I shove, get called because he had a legit hand this time (QQ) and no help on the board and GG me.  Would still make that play more times than not and get the results I want.  Cash game was juicy but still frustrated with the whole set up for the day and decide it was probably better if I just go home and call it a night.  Funny thing is, with that bunch, I'd rather plan NON holdem cash games.  I feel my skill level is far superior in non holdem games even though I'm not even that good.  But when over half the crowd thinks top pair/top kicker is still a decent hand or top 2 pair on a straight or flush board, how can I resist not playing Omaha?  Anyway, now I sit 9th in a 3 way tie, within 24 pts of 4th, and 17th place is within 30 pts of me with 3 games left.  So basically theres still a clusterfuk of things that have to be played out before anything is decided.  First is still attainable but its going to take 3 DEEP finishes.  Right now the goal is to just make the final 9 so I don't have to sit the ridiculous 13/14 handed wildcard table like last time. 

11/9/08 Single Table tourney $25 NL Holdem - Good table lineup, only 1 player I've never played with.  I felt the table was playing really tight so I started out super aggressive.  I pretty much raised every pot that I came into and continuation bet every single flop without much confrontation.  I could tell it was starting to irritate the table a little.  So what started happening, I got in their head and messed with their game.  When they did decide to "look me up" I pretty much had a monster.  One example  50/100 level:  I raiseed on the button with QdJd behind some limpers.  BB calls as does the limper.  Flop the nuts, 9 10 K rainbow.  Checks to me and I lead out, just like I've been doing but this time I get a caller.  Turn 3, completing the rainbow and it goes check check.  River 6 and he leads out into me.  Perfect!  I 3 bet and he calls and tables A10.  Thanks buddy.  A little side vent:  I HATE the AK limp raise all in.  Its such a weak move.  AND if you decide to limp raise with AK, don't be mad when I raised with an "bad hand" but you're giving me 50 to 1 by the time it comes back around to me and I proceed to "suck out" on you.  Seriously.  Just open with the hand and I won't be so inclined to raise with J10 in LP and then forced to call you because you're giving me at least 3 to 1 and it cost me 5% of my chips.  Just not a good idea to do that against the chip leader when I pretty much will call you 100% of the time with ANY TWO CARDS.  Do you really think I would fold anything in that spot.  I've been limp raised so many times in the last few months with AK, I swear.  Must be a new fad or something.  Ok, rant over.  So after my massive suck out, I literally had 35% of the chips in play at a point.  I didn't lose that chip lead until it got down to 4 handed where I played a key hand against 2nd in chips where I turned the flush and he rivered the better flush.  Still, I never felt I was outmatched.  At a point with about 5 or 6 left, the two of us had the bulk of the chips and the others were in push mode.  I just couldn't knock anybody out.  Kept on doubling people up going in with the best of it.  The worse one was KK vs A4 and he made a flush.  With the blinds 2K/4K 500 ante, I had 36K of 96K in play and we chose to chop 3 ways, $70 each and play for $40.  At heads up, I was at a 35/65 disadvantage and battled back to take first!  About damn time I posted a win.  Netted $85 for my efforts but just to win is what really counted.  Maybe that will jump start something for this Fri/Sat, Friday being the league and Sat $100 buyin 30+ entrants. 

Wish me luck!

TK